James Wan No Longer Directing The Conjuring 3, Michael Chaves to Helm

James Wan no longer directing The Conjuring 3, Michael Chaves to helm

The Hollywood Reporter brings word that director James Wan is stepping away from The Conjuring franchise for its upcoming third entry. Director Michael Chaves, coming off the upcoming The Curse of La Llorona, will step behind the camera for The Conjuring 3. Wan will remain on board the project as a producer and will act as a “godfather” for the series.

“While working closely with Chaves on The Curse of La Llorona, I got to know him as a filmmaker,” said Wan. “Chaves’ ability to bring emotion to a story, and his understanding of mood and scares make him a perfect fit to direct the next Conjuring film.

“I am a huge fan of the Conjuring films,” Chaves added. “The movies are the rare combination that deliver both tremendous heart and awesome scares. It is both a total thrill and absolute honor to be working with James and the gang at New Line again.”

Previous reports pointed toward The Conjuring 3 gearing up for a 2019 shoot for a 2020 release with The Conjuring 2 screenwriter David Leslie Johnson returning to write the third film. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are set to return for the sequel.

Details for the plot are still being kept under wraps but producer Peter Safran previously stated that The Conjuring 3 would break the pattern of “another supernatural possession in a house with a family in peril.”

Recently, it has also been reported that the untitled Annabelle 3 will begin its filming this fall. The latest installment to the Conjuring Cinematic Universe is director Corin Hardy’s The Nun starring Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story) and Demian Bichir, which is now playing in theaters.